COLUMBUS -- Having done all they could do by beating Illinois 68-55, the Ohio State Buckeyes feigned surprise that there were any other big games on the schedule Sunday.

Indiana at Michigan? A piece of the Big Ten title on the line for the Buckeyes?

"I think we've all got some schoolwork we have to go home and do," point guard Aaron Craft cracked.

Evan Ravenel, the Buckeyes' only senior, would have none of that.

Advertisement

"Speak for yourself," he said with a grin.

The victory over the Illini put Ohio State (23-7, 13-5) in position to grab a share of the conference title if No. 7 Michigan could win at home against No. 2 Indiana later on Sunday.

Later, Craft finally conceded that he knew all about the conference standings and what was at stake.

"There's no point worrying about something that we have no control over," said Craft, who had 14 points and six assists and, as usual, created havoc on defense. "Obviously, we would love for (a Michigan win) to happen. But if it doesn't, it's out of our hands. We did what we needed to do."

Three weeks ago Sunday, the thought of Ohio State being in the middle of a title chase was almost inconceivable. The Buckeyes were routed 71-49 at Wisconsin, a loss that knocked them two games behind the Big Ten leaders with just five left. More than that, it seemed like a psychological blow to a team that came home humiliated.

"As I told them, a lot of people had this team dead to rights a month ago," coach Thad Matta said. "And they haven't lost since then."

Just in the past few days, the Buckeyes played No. 2 Indiana, which only needed a win on its home court to clinch its first outright Big Ten title in two decades. Instead, the Buckeyes hung a 67-58 upset on the Hoosiers.

Then on Sunday the Buckeyes took on an Illinois team that had manhandled them in early January, 74-55.

"You look at what we had to do just in terms of this week, going to Bloomington and you ride the emotional high coming off (the win there)," Matta said. "Then you're playing (an Illinois) team that was at one point in the top 10 in the country. From the standpoint of what these guys have been able to do, I couldn't be prouder of them."

So they left the arena in the odd position of having to root for archrival Michigan in order to get a share of the title. The Buckeyes were seeking at least a piece of their fourth straight Big Ten crown and sixth in eight years.

Deshaun Thomas, the Big Ten's leading scorer at 19.8 points a game, scored 19 while possibly played his final home game for Ohio State.

"We'll think about that decision at the end of the (NCAA) tournament," said Thomas, a junior. "Right now, there's a lot more basketball left. I'm just going to enjoy my time and try to get to the Final Four. That's all I'm worried about now."

The Buckeyes are assured the No. 2 seed in next week's Big Ten tournament in Chicago.

They beat the Illini (21-11, 8-10) by overcoming a stalemate after the first 13 minutes, closing the half on a 12-2 run and then holding off any threats at the end.

"The end of the first half, they made a run on us and got a nice little lead going into halftime," said Brandon Paul, who led the Illini with 21 points. "That definitely boosted their confidence. Then we didn't find ways to stop them down the stretch."

Illinois pulled as close as 51-44 on consecutive 3-pointers by Paul and Myke Henry.

But then Craft, who has broken out of a lethargic offensive season with several big scoring efforts, drove the lane and banked in a layup in traffic. After an Illini miss, Thomas fed Ravenel for a three-point play.

Craft then rebounded at the other end and tossed in a 3 late in the shot clock and the lead was 15 with less than six minutes left.

"It looks like from watching film they're playing the best that they've played," said first-year Illinois coach John Groce, a longtime assistant to Matta at Ohio State and former Ohio University head coach. "They're getting contributions from a lot of guys. They're starting to connect a little bit and play together."

The Buckeyes will play Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten tournament against the winner of seventh-seeded Purdue and 11th-seeded Nebraska. The Illini will play ninth-seeded Minnesota on Thursday.

The Ohio State winning streak provides some powerful momentum -- for the Big Ten tournament and beyond.

"I think it matters because you have the momentum," Ravenel said of the five straight wins. "You've got the taste of winning in your mouth and you want to keep it there. You just want to keep playing, and keep winning."